On Thursday 14 May, 2020, Tom Donohue, CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce spoke to representatives from AmChams from around the world on a call focused on sharing information on the impact of COVID-19 on businesses. In his remarks, he highlighted the activities of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce aimed at supporting its member companies. Mr Donohue also emphasised the need for governments to work with businesses in order to reopen the economy through practical guidelines and best practices learnt from essential businesses that have remained opened during the crisis.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO speaks to AmChams from around the world on the impact of COVID-19
On Thursday 14 May, 2020, Tom Donohue, CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce spoke to representatives from AmChams from around the world on a call focused on sharing information on the impact of COVID-19 on businesses. In his remarks, he highlighted the activities of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce aimed at supporting its member companies. Mr Donohue also emphasised the need for governments to work with businesses in order to reopen the economy through practical guidelines and best practices learnt from essential businesses that have remained opened during the crisis.
Tom Donohue’s remarks were preceded by Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He outlined that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been monitoring issues like protectionism, export controls and other national economic measures that have increased in the last few months. He also explained that while temporary measures and flexibility to rules are understandable in this context, these should not continue indefinitely as they can jeopardise competition and the market.
The call closed with presentations from Directors of several AmChams around the world such as Germany, Kenya, Malaysia, and Peru among others. During their interventions, the Directors shared their experiences and priorities in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on their member companies and national economies. Some of the common themes included concerns about the ability of small and medium enterprises to stay afloat, the high unemployment rates, disruption to supply chains and the flow of goods.
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The Commission’s proposed transitional rules to anticipate the removal of the €150 customs duty threshold risk creating distortions and unnecessary complexity. As discussed at the Trade Contact Group in January 2026, the current approach could undermine simplification efforts and lead to an uneven playing field between businesses involved in low-value distance sales.
Co-legislators should consider targeted changes to address these risks. In particular, the temporary €3 duty and the use of the H7 simplified customs declarations should apply consistently to all distance sales below €150. H7 data requirements for simplified procedures should also remain proportionate and not exceed those of the standard H1 dataset. Finally, changes to the definition of the customs declarant should be avoided where they may create legal uncertainty or increase fraud and liability risks.
Find out more about why a proportionate and legally sound approach is essential for a workable de minimis transition.
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The transport sector accounts for around a quarter of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with road transport responsible for the majority. As a company dependent on efficient logistics, Amazon is taking concrete steps to decarbonise its operations and support Europe’s climate ambitions. Across several Member States, the company is expanding its fleet of zero-exhaust emission vehicles, investing in electric trucks and delivering packages by lower-emission rail freight. These initiatives demonstrate how innovation in transport can combine operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. Read the full story on Invested in Europe.
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